His next project, which was just announced, will be working with a team of Emirati scientists, engineers and designers from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to help design the Mars Science City.

Plans for the Mars Science City form part of the United Arab Emirate's Mars 2117 Strategy, which aims to build the first settlement on Mars within the next 100 years.

Once constructed, a team will live within the simulated Mars environment for one year, learning about the challenges future Mars settlers could face.

Scientists will use those labs to develop technologies that can provide future Martian colonies with food, water and energy.

In February, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said in a series of tweets that "Mars 2117" will involve Emirati and worldwide scientists.

A giant city built under domes in the desert could be used to prepare Earthlings for life on Mars. The $136 million (Dh500 million) facility will cover almost 177,000 square meters (1.9 million square feet) of the desert. The walls of this museum, the press release says, will feature 3D-printed designs using sand from the Emirati desert.

Sheikh Mohammed also hailed UAE nationals for their efforts towards this success.

It will be named the Martian Scientific City and will consist of a science museum section created to inspire visitors and a scientific testing section.

"The new project is another step in the UAE's leading contributions to the global science movement; we seek to set an example and motivation for others to participate, and contribute, to humanity's march into space", he concluded.

Dubai has won the bid to host the 2020 International Astronautical Congress (IAC), which will take place days after the UAE Mars Mission launches its probe "Hope" to Mars.

"We also want to consolidate the passion for leadership in science in the UAE, contributing to improving life on earth and to developing innovative solutions to many of our global challenges..."